MARION — River Valley will be playing on new courts this season, while Pleasant will be playing for a new coach. As for Marion Harding, it's largely status quo heading into the 2024 season.
Here's a closer look at each of the Marion area's three girls tennis teams before the season starts:
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Marion Harding
The Presidents will again be coached by the legendary Blaine Pitts, who is closing in on 500 career wins. He is in his 32nd season of coaching in the Marion City Schools where he owns a 405-257 record and his 38th season overall with a mark of 480-309.
As is usual with Pitts-coached teams, they will be in the mix for a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference championship with Shelby and hold hopes for at least 15 wins on the schedule.
"Shelby is the favorite. We hope to compete with them," Pitts said, who will be assisted by Noe Camp and Nicole Flock.
Senior Audrey Feasel in first singles and senior Raina Smith in second singles will resume their spots in the lineup. Seniors Abbey Hoertz and Kaia Berry played doubles last year as did junior Abigail Hanke. New to varsity this year will be junior Keira Camp, junior Serenity Blevins and sophomore Macey Harper. Gone are Autumn and Sierra Silverio and Sophie Beechum.
Pitts knows his team's strength is with his experienced singles players, but he hopes the new doubles players can catch up.
Pleasant
After a decade, Spartans coach Kirsten Jordan stepped down. She was replaced by Allison Edwards after a year as an assistant.
Like the coach, it's a largely new roster as graduation took five of the seven varsity players away. Doubles partners last year, seniors' Anya Miller and Kylie Klaiber are the most experienced Pleasant players on the court along with junior Bailey Leslie who played some doubles a year ago.
Junior Mary Aurigemma along with sophomores Carly Peyton, Sarah Jordan and Keya Patel will fill in around the letter winners.
"My team has a very hard work ethic and drive. We have a younger team who are eager to learn and improve their skills," Edwards said. "The team's major goal for this year is improvement and gaining experience."
River Valley
The Vikings will break in new courts this fall and a largely veteran crew as only Rose Linville at first singles and doubles player Addi Comstock graduated.
Leading RV for longtime coach Sherry Jenkins will be seniors Amelia Young, Ava Stover, Natalie Polley and Elise Osborne. Other players vying for spots in the lineup will be Kennedy Rensch, Brooke Adams, Phoebe Klenzman, Lauren Hildreth and Jeanine Hoffman. Junior transfer student from Marion Harding, Sophie Beechum, brings experience to the courts, too.
"We should land in the top of the middle of the pack," Jenkins said of their MOAC hopes. "Show improvement throughout the season and win our invite."
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Girls Tennis Preview: New courts, new coach, status quo mark Marion-area teams in 2024
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